GM Pickups to Have Softer Styling

By

Joseph B. White

Updated Nov. 29, 2012 4:37 p.m. ET

LOS ANGELES—General Motors Co. plans to drive the styling of its top-selling pickup trucks away from the rough and rugged looks of the past decade when it launches redesigned models next year, the head of the auto maker's North American operations said on Wednesday.

Redesigned large Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra pickups are due out next year, to be followed by a new line of smaller pickups in 2014 to lure customers who are willing to accept less towing power or payload capacity for better fuel economy. The large...